“It’s something that will enhance the game and the state of the game,” he (Jabbar) said. “College basketball is still a very important thing to many young players across the country. This is great for them. It makes this so meaningful.”

Fellow former NBA superstar Bill Walton introduced the NBA’s all-time leader in career points to an enthusiastic crowd of awe-inspired onlookers.

“Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest player I ever played against,” Walton said. “By far. Second place isn’t even close. Kareem is as fine, as smart, as accomplished a player and a human being as I’ve ever known or seen. Kareem, in our world, is simply known as the king of everything.”

The Hall of Fame is the first of its kind to exclusively honor the achievements of NCAA basketball players. Jabbar was easily the biggest name to be inducted this year, based on a UCLA tenure that included three national championships, the Bruin’s single season (29) scoring record (26.4), career scoring record and the most points scored in a game (61).

“I’m very happy to be involved in this event tonight because college basketball is so important to the young people who played this game and love this game,” he (Jabbar) said. “For me, college basketball was it.”